Enhanced breakdown strength of Al2O3-modified Pb-0.99(Zr0.95Ti0.05)(0.98)Nb0.02O3 ferroelectric ceramics with core shell structure

摘要

The Al2O3-modified Pb-0.99(Zr0.95Ti0.05)(0.98)Nb0.02O3 (PZT 95/5) ferroelectric ceramics with enhanced breakdown strength were prepared from PZT 95/5 powders coated with a thin Al2O3 shell layer, which were fabricated by a Citrate-Chelation method followed by a conventional sintering process. The microstructure and electrical properties of the as-prepared ceramics as a function of Al2O3 content were systematically investigated. The results reveal that Al2O3 nanoparticles are successfully coated on PZT 95/5 powders to form the core shell structure and well dispersed at the grain boundaries of the PZT 95/5 ceramic matrix after sintering, which strengthened the grain boundaries. In particular, compared with pure PZT 95/5 ferroelectric ceramics, PZT 95/5 ceramics with less than 1.0 wt% Al2O3 inclusion possess the enhanced breakdown strength and energy density, of which the largest increment being 25.9% and 13.5%, respectively. It is indicated that the as-prepared PZT 95/5 ferroelectric ceramics may be a promising candidate for explosively driven power supply. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.